2022 Prep Redzone KY Awards: Two-Way Player of the Year
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Now that the 2022 high school football season has come and gone, it is time to take a look back on another very exciting year. In the state of Kentucky in particular, there was an abundance of talent on display…
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Continue ReadingNow that the 2022 high school football season has come and gone, it is time to take a look back on another very exciting year. In the state of Kentucky in particular, there was an abundance of talent on display this past season. While it was a very hard thing to do, I have taken a close look at the top performers in every phase of the game and have decided on some end of the year awards for the 2022 high school football season. After covering my Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, I am now turning my attention to players that made a big impact on both sides of the ball. With that being said, here is my 2022 Two-Way Player of the Year finalists and winner.
Finalists
Kenyon Goodin Kenyon Goodin 6’3″ | 185 lbs | ATH Martha Layne Collins | 2023 State KY is a player that I was high on all season as he proved to be one of the most dynamic football players in the entire state. Goodin was the leader of Collins’ offense at quarterback in 2022, completing 141/258 passes for 1,928 yards, 23 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. He has a very strong arm, showing the ability to lead his receivers down the field and hit them in stride in the deep passing game. I also really like Goodin’s pocket mobility as he has the ability to move in the pocket and even escape it to avoid pressure while keeping his eyes down the field to deliver passes on the run. Goodin is also electric as a ball carrier, using his speed and elusiveness to make big plays with his legs. He finished his senior year with 205 carries for 1,225 yards and 18 touchdowns. Kenyon also made a big impact on defense at safety, finishing the season with 67 tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and four interceptions. He returned one of those interceptions for a touchdown. Goodin is committed to Army where I can see him turning into a star in that offense.
Highlights
Ty Bryant Ty Bryant 6’1″ | 190 lbs | ATH Frederick Douglass | 2023 State KY is another player that I’ve been high on for a while now as he has consistently been one of the best players in the state over the last few seasons. Bryant is a dominant safety on defense where I believe to be his strength. He didn’t get to play as much as other players throughout the state due to starters being sat early in most games during blowout wins but he still made an impact when on the field, finishing his senior year with 22 tackles, three tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and two interceptions. Bryant is a ball hawk on the back end, doing a great job of reading the play and covering a ton of ground when the ball is in the air. He times his breaks on the ball perfectly and has the ball skills to catch interceptions in stride. Bryant also made a big impact on offense as a running back, showing great vision, strength, speed, and elusiveness in the open field as a ball carrier. He finished the 2022 season with 64 carries for 498 yards and 12 touchdowns. Bryant also showed ability as a returner on special teams, returning three punts for touchdowns this season. Ty played a key role in the Broncos’ 5A State Championship victory, earning MVP honors. Bryant is committed to stay at home and play for Kentucky where I see him developing into a key player for the Wildcats.
An underclassman that jumped onto my radar quickly this season was Boyle County’s Montavin Quisenberry Montavin Quisenberry 5’9″ | 160 lbs | ATH Boyle County | 2025 State KY . He played a key role on both sides of the ball in the Rebel’s 4A State Championship run. On offense, Quisenberry made an impact both as a receiver and a ball carrier. At receiver, Quisenberry finished the season with 57 catches for 833 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was able to use his electric speed to run right by defensive backs in the deep passing game and used his speed and elusiveness after the catch to turn short passes and screens into big gains. Out of the backfield, Quisenberry carried the ball 96 times for 1,009 yards and ten touchdowns. He has very impressive vision and hits the running lane quickly as soon as it happens. Once he hits the open field, he either simply runs away from the defense or makes defenders miss with his elusiveness. He also proved to be a dangerous threat on special teams, returning three punts and three kick offs for touchdowns this season. On defense, Quisenberry made a big impact as a defensive back, finishing the year with 36 tackles, three tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and three interceptions. Montavin currently holds offers from Kentucky and Louisville, and I expect more to come his way as he is a true Power 5 caliber talent.
Another two-way athlete that jumped onto my radar this season was Daniel Thomas Daniel Thomas 5’9″ | 180 lbs | ATH Bell County | 2024 State KY from Bell County. Thomas played a huge role on both sides of the ball during his junior season. On offense, Thomas was a very dominant ball carrier, finishing with 208 carries for 2,228 yards and 29 touchdowns. He is a downhill runner that hits the running lane with a sense of urgency that keeps his feet churning through contact and has the contact balance to break tackles without losing stride. Thomas also has the breakaway speed to run away from the defense once he hits the open field. He also proved to be a threat in the passing game, finishing the year with 12 receptions for 360 yards and five touchdowns. On defense, Thomas made a big impact as a linebacker. He finished the year with 87 total tackles, six tackles for loss, five sacks, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. While he hasn’t received any offers yet, I expect some to come his way going into his senior year as Thomas has received a good amount of college interest and definitely has the talent to play at the next level.
Highlights
Mitchell Berger Mitchell Berger 5’11” | 190 lbs | ATH Beechwood | 2023 State KY is a player that was off to a very hot start to his senior year and unfortunately had it cut short after eight games due to an injury. However, he made a huge impact in all three phases of the game during that span of games. On offense, Berger stood out as a running back, finishing the season with 121 carries for 1,119 yards and 21 touchdowns. He is a hard-nosed downhill runner, showing the ability to burst through the running lane and run right through opposing defenders without breaking stride. Once he hits the open field, Berger has shown that he also has the speed to run away from the defense. Berger also showed the ability to pose as a threat in the passing game, finishing his senior year with 19 catches for 251 yards and two touchdowns. He also proved to be a very reliable kicker, making 19/19 PAT attempts and hitting his one field goal attempt this season. On defense, Beechwood didn’t post their official stats, but Berger made a big impact as a linebacker, showing the ability to read his keys, flow to the ball, and finish tackles with a ton of physicality in the open field. Mitchell is committed to play baseball at Eastern Kentucky in college but could definitely play football at the next level if he were to have a sudden change of heart.
Winner: Kenyon Goodin Kenyon Goodin 6'3" | 185 lbs | ATH Martha Layne Collins | 2023 State KY – 2023 ATH, Collins
Like my other two awards races, this one was a very close one as these five players, along with several others, were all very deserving candidates. However, Goodin’s dominant 2022 season could not be ignored. There were times during the season where he seemed to be the entire offense for Collins as both their quarterback and leading rusher. Carrying that much weight on offense and then going to the other side of the ball and continuing to make a big impact on defense is something that isn’t seen very often. I expect Goodin to be a very successful player at the next level as he joins an Army offense that fits his play style perfectly.